MONTREAL — Mirabel Mayor Jean Bouchard pleaded Wednesday for a three-month stay of execution for the mothballed former Mirabel airport terminal. In vain.

“No,” was the unambiguous answer from Aéroports de Montréal spokeswoman Christiane Beaulieu. “Demolition work is starting this fall.”

On May 1, ADM announced it would bulldoze the one-million-square-foot terminal that has not been used for more than 10 years unless it received a credible proposal for an alternative use of the cavernous building by Sept. 16 — next Tuesday.

“Nothing justifies that ADM proceed so quickly with an action that is irreversible,” Bouchard said at a news conference in Montreal.

“Forty years ago, the (expropriation of land and) construction of Mirabel airport tore out a part of the soul and future of the region. Today, we don’t want ADM to do the same, so that all the sacrifices of people (expropriated) end up stupidly in the dust of demolition.”

Flanked by mayors of several neighbouring municipalities, Bouchard announced a proposal for an exhibition and exposition centre at the facility. Converting 200,000 square feet, or 20 per cent of the terminal, to host large-scale events would cost about $30 million, he said, and would turn a profit in its first year.

Two event organizers have signed on, he said, though he declined to name them.

Bouchard swiped aside concerns about the asbestos the building contains, arguing that most public Montreal buildings dating from the 1970s “have more asbestos than that. Asbestos is not a problem.”

“Analyses, discussions and studies in the last four months conclude very eloquently as to the feasibility of this conversion project.”

“The idea is to have a regional exhibition and exposition centre like there is in every Quebec region — Quebec, Sherbrooke, Drummondville. The last one cost $30 million for 60,000 square feet. Our estimate is $30 million (for a much bigger space that could accommodate) an auto show, or a home show.”

The two would not compete with the current shows in Montreal, but would be “additional, regional, complementary shows,” Bouchard said.

“We are confident we can obtain the financing necessary,” he added.

Quebec Minister Pierre Arcand, who is responsible for the north shore region, is “receptive” to the idea, he said, but substantive meetings have yet to be held on financing.

He urged Ottawa to be more flexible, but added that Denis Lebel, minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, is “sensitive to our project.”

Bouchard aimed his barbs at ADM, which he said tried to attract much too grand projects “of half a billion dollars” to occupy the former airport.

His project is conditional on obtaining financing from Quehec and Ottawa, he added.

“They won’t get it,” Beaulieu said.

“They give the impression they’ll get government aid. If ministers were going to give subsidies, they would have given us some during the 10 years we tried to convert the building to do something else. There’s no money. I mean, governments are cutting pension funds. They just won’t get any money.”

Arcand and Lebel could not be reached immediately.

Beaulieu said ADM needs some of the terminal land for repair and extension work on the runway, a $30-million to $40-million project that starts next year.

“Don’t forget that Bombardier has its (CSeries and other) test flights there, Pratt & Whitney has its (CSeries engine) plant there, there’s cargo operations, and F-18s land there for repair work.”

Bouchard said that in the short term, it would also try to attract aviation industry sub-contractors, but the ultimate goal for the terminal conversion is to establish an air show there like the ones in France, England and elsewhere.

But the aerospace industry, especially Bombardier, summarily rejected that plan.

“We are big exporters,” said Bombardier Commercial Aerospace spokesman Marc Duchesne, “and what’s important to us is to be close to our clients.”

“We have a major presence at air shows in France, England and Dubai because that’s where 95 per cent of our customers are.”

“So we have little interest in an air show here.”

The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada has also nixed the plan.

Beaulieu said the winning bid to raze the mammoth building has been picked but the company that will carry it out has not been announced because the contract is not signed yet.

“What’s the hurry? What would three months more cost them?” asked Bouchard.

More than $1 million, replied Beaulieu.

“It costs between $3 million and $5 million a year to maintain the building, including taxes.”

She said a study conducted for ADM by engineering firm Altus found that the renovations costs, including removing asbestos and installing insulation that would comply with new building code regulations, would be high — more than $30 million.

But Bouchard said that the architect firm of LEMAYMICHAUD estimated the $30 million was “feasible and conservative.”

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